Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-09-10

AHlS HVo vi LtuoI ndN0 prepared Vle
following circular which they are
sending to all candidates for the State
Senate and House of Delegates:
Dear SH-'We, the undersigned committee,
beg leave to inform you that, desiring to OBJ
tain the sentiments of the various candidates
of the different parties at the coming election
throughout the State in regard to labor legis-
lation, therefore respectfully ask your con-
sideration of and anSrer to the following
questions:
The JOURNAL, though not can
didate, undertakes to answer the
questions. In doing 50 it entertains
the hope that few nominees at
least will have something tangible to
stand upon as against the dema-
gogues who will respond with the
&c parte eyes to each inquiry,
VIII you, if elected, vote for the Mining
and Ventilation Bill passed by the last legis-
lature, but which failed to become law for
want of the Governors approval?
No. Because the bill so passed
was not called for by any exigency
in this region, present or prospective.
Worse than that, it was essen TALLY
unconstitutional, and the conscien-
tious nominee who promises to vote
for it, and, off elected" afterward
swears to support the Constitution
a5 Il legislator, will find that his
promise does not harmonize with his
oath.
Will you, if elected, vote for a law creating
an ins"ector OF mines and factories?
In the first case, no; because the
office is already provided for by law.
In the second, yes; provided the in
cumbent shall not be in Interested either
as Il proprietor or laborer in any fac
tory, and that he be in all cases man
Of common sense.
Will you vote for law prohibiting all
compulsory insurance by railroad corpora
tons and Others other than regularly incor-
porated insurance companies?
Yes; outside Of the power of the
State we would tolerate no compul-
sion of citizens, particularly by
creatures Of the State.
VIII you vote for law compelling all en-
ployers Corporations and Individually to pay
their employees in current money weekly?
No. Because the State has no
power to usurp any inherent right, of
which the right of contract is one of
the foremost. If it had, it could
establish the cash system at once,
and be done with it.
Will you vote to increase the appropriation
of the Bureau of Labor Statistics to $4,000
to increase its efficiency?
That depends altogether upon the
efficiency already attained, and the
objects to be further subserved. We
wonld do anything and everything
legitimate to promote the true cause
Of true labor.
VIII you vote for law requiring all in
spectors of minesa and factories to be prac-
tical mechanic, familiar, under examination,
with hygienic laws and the practical work
ings of such places?
NO not when men can be found
who know as much as the practical
mechanic" Of "hygienic laws and the
practical workings Of such places"
We would vote for no bill whatever
that would prescribe one man and
subsidlze another, each being the
equal of the other, "under examina-
ton" in qualifications and merit.
VIII you vote for a bill prohibiting the
employment of children under Is years of
age in factories, mines, mills and workshops
10 this question, in all probability
thrown i'll to give "tone" to the other
interrogatories, We would answer I'M
hesitatingly-yes. We would be
willing to go two steps further-(D
vote for an effective public school
system, and (2) require the parents of
such children to send them to school
from 10 to Is.
VIII you vote fora bill making eight hours
legal days work for all men engaged in
mechanical or manual labor by the State or
city?
No; the employees of the State or
city have no natural or acosired
rights that other workingmen do not
or should not enjoy.
Will you vote for a bill to collect all taxes
necessary for the maintenance of State and
city governments from the rental value of all
bare lands, and to abolish all taxes upon the
products of labor?
Whenever the apostles Of that
scheme have formulated fair, equit-
able plah-yes. There could hardly
be system of taxation more unequal
in application and more open to abuse
than the one under which we are sus-
talnlng government.
VIII you vote for bill to strike out the
word, white" wherever it occurs in the
Constitution or laws of the State?